Built to “represent family”, the Menhirs for Peace (Menhires pola Paz in Spanish) is a unique and interesting stop in La Coruña, Spain. The installation consists of 12 upright, man-made stones overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Each stone has holes carved into it, designed as “portals” for visitors to look through, meant to encourage “personal reflection and interpretation”. While the Menhirs for Peace may not be anywhere near as historical or as awe-inspiring as the real Stonehenge (Stonehenge: Not Just a Pile of Rocks.), it’s still a cool and peaceful spot worth checking out while exploring La Coruña.
Built as an art installation, the Menhirs for Peace is located at Paseo dos Menhires, 15002 A Coruña, Spain, a stone’s throw (pun intended) from another iconic La Coruña landmark, the Torre de Hércules. It makes it easy to visit both in one, quick trip. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the site is entirely free to visit. You can walk right up to it, explore the installation at your own pace, and move among the stones. Visitors are encouraged to touch them, look through the carved openings, and reflect as long as they wish.
There are a few dirt paths that wind around the stones, or you can walk across the grass to get close to them. There are also several benches nearby, offering a nice spot to sit and gaze out at the ocean while enjoying the peaceful surroundings of the art installation. We got treated to a very unexpected and fun sight during our visit – a Spanish warship casually cruising through the bay and past the stones.
The Menhirs for Peace was officially created in 1994 by Galician artist Manolo Paz, making it 30 years old. While I found it to closely resemble Stonehenge (there’s even a nearby section that looks practically identical – please see below), he was allegedly inspired by the Neolithic menhirs (standing stones) found throughout the Iberian Peninsula. The stones vary in height, with the tallest of the menhirs standing at approximately 11.5 feet (3.5 meters).
Overall, whether you believe the Menhirs for Peace was intended to simply be Spain’s own copycat Stonehenge, or a thought-provoking art installation based on the Neolithic menhirs of the Iberian Peninsula designed to inspire deep reflection, it’s still a fun stop on any La Coruña itinerary. However, unless you plan to meditate or embark on an intense spiritual journey, your visit will likely take about 15-20 minutes (30 minutes tops), making it an easy and quick stop. Basically, if you’re already in the area to see the Tower of Hercules, there’s no reason not to swing by and check it out!
